Athletes, professional teams in China adjust to coronavirus reality
Updated 23:00, 11-Mar-2020
CGTN
Li Lu trains with China's national canoe team during the Wadi Adventure International Canoe Slalom Winter Training Camp in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, March 4, 2020. /VCG

Li Lu trains with China's national canoe team during the Wadi Adventure International Canoe Slalom Winter Training Camp in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, March 4, 2020. /VCG

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has taken its toll on sporting events at all levels and across the world. Events got postponed or relocated, games were played behind doors and players have been practicing under uncertainties as no one knows how long this stretch of time will be. 

However, despite the frustrations, many of China's national sports and gaming teams have come up with ways to tackle the situation. 

Since February, China's national Go team started their online training sessions. Three different matches were held each day. Top Go players, including Ke Jie, needed only to log on to their computers and start training.

China's top Go player Ke Jie plays online matches as the national team hopes to maintain its training sessions during the coronavirus outbreak. /CCTV

China's top Go player Ke Jie plays online matches as the national team hopes to maintain its training sessions during the coronavirus outbreak. /CCTV

Following a similar approach, China's national shooting team also took advantage of the internet as they organized shooting competitions to accommodate the participation of athletes from all over the country. A coordination staff gave the orders during the game through video streaming with scores reflected on the internet.

For athletes who simply couldn't play or train because of the virus, they took the time to practice by themselves, rediscovering their passion and love for their respective sport.

Current Chinese Basketball Association team Beijing Ducks player Jeremy Lin revealed what he has been through with the Association postponing games until at least April.

Jeremy Lin took to social media and posted a photo of him training.

Jeremy Lin took to social media and posted a photo of him training.

"Being fully healthy during this hibernation time has allowed me to rebuild and refocus my game and my mind. No lights, no glamour, no spectators. Just weights, skill-work and mental training," he said on social media.

He said this stretch of time reminded him of the 2011 NBA lockout and he learned to appreciate each day of practice.

Lin was not the only player who engaged with his fans during the coronavirus outbreak. China's national table tennis team, while playing in Qatar, were also reaching out to their fans by encouraging them with more ways to exercise at home.

Olympic champion Xu Xin plays table tennis on a temporary mini table with his national teammates in Qatar, February 20. /CCTV

Olympic champion Xu Xin plays table tennis on a temporary mini table with his national teammates in Qatar, February 20. /CCTV

They used a conference table and tissue boxes to set up a mini Ping Pong table and played with their cell phones. Olympic champions such as Ma Long, Xu Xin and Ding Ning led the leisure activities.

Apart from all of them, there's still the majority of China's national sports teams training abroad. Many are fighting for the berth for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite the coronavirus, they are focused and committed to their training, hoping to use their performance on the sports arena to boost the morale for Chinese people everywhere.